New Joiners - Animals #633

Wow, talk about a jaw dropping shot! I absolutely love this Lion portrait. The expression, the stare, the scars, and the frame filling mane provide lots of drama throughout the composition. I also like the low key or dark feeling surrounding the edges, which provides for a nice vignette in order to bring the attention towards the center.

Snakes can be very photogenic if captured the right way as one can see in this composition. The curves in its posture add interest and the beam of light illuminates the head nicely. The orange color is stunning and works well in contrast to the burned log and in harmony with the surrounding greenery.

This deer image leans toward the artistic style, and that's something I've always gravitated towards. Even though the subjects are in silhouette., it's quite clear what they are to the viewer. The natural framing is a nice touch and the distant background provides a proper sense of habitat to support the overall composition.

Goldenrods are a symbol of late summer in the United States and offer refuge for our butterflies as can be seen here. The color harmony stands out in this shot and the subject placement in the frame works well as it's surrounded by a sea of yellow. Focus is spot on with sharpness applied where it counts.

A certain mood can define an animal photograph if it's powerful enough, and this fits the bill. I absolutely love the dark and cloudy sky. The subtle and muted tones in the foreground and background help bring all the attention to the white horse. This is a scene you want to walk into and experience first hand.

The busy and out of focus background really stands out in a positive way as it supplements the Mallard so well. The shade or diffused light also adds interest with a sense of subtlety that's not common with duck portraits. The background is brighter than the subject, but it just works here.

Coastal Brown Bears are amazing animals and the best way to capture their behavior is the during the salmon run in Alaska. This frame has both a sense of stillness and motion at the same time. The frozen expression is offset by the motion in the claws as they rip through the water.

A little bit of chaos can be effective in animal photography. I rather like all of the details in the surrounding foliage and the complexity serves as a contrast to the dark Moose that's almost a silhouette. It takes some studying, but you do eventually notice a person standing the lower right portion of the frame. I hope it's still safe there.

Britty Kitty as its called, is captured beautifully in this portrait. The shallow depth of field and angled light bring all interest to the face and eyes. The composition is on point and the fish tank below offers up a nice story as we know cats love to watch fish.

Eye contact can be an important aspect to any photograph and that's what dominates in this shot. The horse's eye is well positioned in the upper third of the frame and its darkness has mystery and leaves much for interpretation. Once you are drawn in, it's difficult to look away. .

The perch and pleasing, out of focus background set the stage nicely for this Robin shot. The orange on the bird's face and breast along with the green lichen are complimentary and they both come together here. I've been meaning to photograph birds in the UK and the Robin will be first on my list when I'm back visiting.

I have to say that Rum and Raisin are absolutely adorable! The expression of the subject on the left is precious and will bring immediate joy to any audience. You can't help but get the impression they are both friends and share a kinship beyond this photograph. I'm thinking about getting a pet sheep now!

Golden Eagles are some of the most powerful birds in the world and this portrait is a symbol of their strength. I rather like the thin vertical crop and the wing position as it leads up to the raptor's intense stare. The shapes and curves add interest and take this beyond a typical documentary shot.

Jumping Spiders make for great subjects, but they're usually captured up close with macro lenses. While these shots are pleasing, you really don't get a realistic sense of scale as you can see with this image. The composition works well, but it's the comparative sense of size that really makes the frame strong.

This puppy photograph has a fantastic sense of depth as the eye can enter the frame and follow the story accordingly. The colors are subtle yet quite strong and the bi-color face of the pup really stands out. Even though this is a first attempt, I'm sure he'll be natural on the leach before you know it!